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Wonder Egg Ponderings #3
This thread ended up being more speculative than actually... being about the episode itself, but given that we have enough substantial information to work with at this point, I couldn't help myself. But at least this thread is a little shorter this time!
This thread ended up being more speculative than actually... being about the episode itself, but given that we have enough substantial information to work with at this point, I couldn't help myself. But at least this thread is a little shorter this time!
I feel like at this point we've been given enough definitive information as to how the egg system actually works. It's not as though it was completely ambiguous before, but now we can be more specific about the rules set in place. One of which is that the eggs must be hatched-
inside a sleep-induced dream, and that cooperation between two (and perhaps more) "saviors" is possible as long as they sleep within the same time and vicinity. This implies that it is indeed possible for Ai to help Neiru ease her burden directly as she can help save the eggs,
and perhaps, we might even get a chance to see all four of the main characters in the same dream once they've all been introduced, which I am excited for. But to me, the most interesting information we've gotten now is the nature of the eggs and the saviors themselves...
in that they're both sinners. There hasn't really been an answer for where the eggs might have come from, up until this episode as the twin fangirls admit suicide. If we are to assume that the previous victims also suffered the same fate, then this must be a point of convergence-
and would perhaps remain consistent throughout the story. And it's also significant to know this, as it directly contrasts the saviors. I chose this word not because of their desire to save someone, but the fact that they're doing all this to save themselves. They kinda have to.
If there's anything that has remained consistent throughout how every main character has been introduced so far, is that they're not just people who've lost someone dear to them. In fact that's not even the main criteria to be selected as a savior.
All of them, except less explicitly Ai, had an influence to someone's suicide, and I feel like it's not just as though they were the ones closest to the person to have possibly prevented it, I'm actually saying that they CAUSED it.
(MAJOR MADOKA MAGICA SPOILERS BELOW)
(MAJOR MADOKA MAGICA SPOILERS BELOW)
If you're still reading this, you probably already know where I'm going with this one. I think just as how the magical girl to witch relationship has a cyclical nature, we might be getting something similar to WEP. A lot of parallels can be drawn with these two shows. First and-
foremost is how our protagonist is introduced to an unknown entity presenting them with the prospect of being granted a wish (in WEP's case, the chance to save someone they couldn't). WEP has no need for contracts, for a guilt-driven conviction is enough to keep their players-
within the game. Now to the main thing I wanted to point out. I think that just as how the witches from madoka have been once magical girls themselves, perhaps the wonder killers... actually used to be saviors who failed to redeem themselves. Guilt can be eased through either-
forgiveness, or willful ignorance. Perhaps they have chosen the latter and gave up entirely. And I'm afraid that one of our girls might just end up like that too. I know that this seems like a pretty wild claim, but I think it makes enough sense to be worthy of consideration.
The wonder killers aren't just amalgamations of trauma, just as how madoka's witches aren't just beings of pure despair. They are in fact actual people, or at least they used to be. With the three egg cases we've had so far, they're not really that strong to make a case for my-
argument, since none of them could hint at the fact they failed at redemption, but maybe that's just the nature of their caricature-ish presentation that's hiding some needed context. Nevertheless I'm willing to bet that it's still too early to have this theory shot down,
and we might get some egg cases that could perhaps help prove it. But even if the true nature of the eggs and the saviors don't end up to be what I'm assuming it to be, I still have some points to make about Ai. I still stand by my theory that the saviors have caused the death-
of who they're trying to save themselves. Neiru and Rika pretty much admits it this early, but Ai's a little hard to crack. But from the hints of her past that we've been given, we might be able to come up with something. It truly pains me to say this, but I don't think Ai-
is all that innocent with her involvements in Koito's death. Her constant insistence that it's all her fault might not just be a product of her lack of self-worth and guilt, it might just be the truth. Let me give you some pieces to work with.
In episode 2 we see a flashback of Ai recording inside a utility closet what seemed to be Koito being harassed by other girls. The important thing to note here is that it was recorded on her phone, with how the green case matches hers. All screenshots are taken from the same ep.
This might not be that of a significant detail, but what it implies is that Ai did this voluntarily. If Koito asked for her to take this video as a way of recording proof of harassment, wouldn't it have been better if she let Ai use her phone instead? What's happening here-
is that she's giving it to Ai the responsibility of whether or not to report this incident. But what if she's not actually doing this to help Koito in the first place? Briefly after this flashback she mentions that she was "afraid of being left out", which might have led-
to her doing what she did. It might be that the bullies themselves pressured her into doing this for them, which she was forced to comply to or else she'd end up being a target. She only left her spot earlier than expected to talk to Koito, perhaps expecting forgiveness from her.
To tell her that she didn't have a choice. That second possibility might not be as sound, but whichever way the story went, I'm pretty sure that Ai chose not to report what she recorded. She pretended not to see, and that was her betrayal. Or a part of it at least.
This is only more so supported by the next episode's flashback, with how we see Koito crying to their teacher as he stares back at Ai with what I could only assume was a gaze of disappointment. More than just Ai's arrival ruining the moment (lol), but how she failed Koito.
While we still have yet to know more about what role the teacher plays in all this, these two flashbacks establish a not so pretty image of Ai, if anything. Though I'm not saying the teacher, or even Koito, is any better. But perhaps, the truth gets even more darker.
I guess that's it for now, sorry if I didn't talk about Rika that much, just know that I absolutely adore her and would give her character justice on another thread. My train of thoughts just ran to this direction while writing this. I hope you got something out of it tho!
